Other Trainings and Events

NOTE: AAM has made an effort to ensure that the information given below is accurate. Please be sure to verify dates, times, locations and costs with the sponsoring organization by clicking on the links provided or by contacting them directly. AAM neither sponsors nor endorses the events and trainings listed here.

Special Notice for Family Mediators

If you are looking for Family Violence Dynamics training to satisfy the requirements of SB 539, click HERE. To qualify as a court-appointed mediator in a dispute relating to the parent-child relationship you must complete this training by January 1, 2018.

These classes are free to CTDRC Mediators and $10 for non-CTDRC Mediators, Attorneys and the public. For more information, contact the CTDRC at (512) 878-0382 or visit their website HERE.

UT Austin School of Social Work

The School of Social Work offers a variety of programs of interest to mediators throughout the year. You can see their upcoming offerings by visiting their website HERE.

Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at the UT School of Law

The Center offers a variety of training opportunities throughout the year. For more information, visit their web site HERE.

Family Violence Dynamics Training

On March 19, 2017, the Texas House passed SB 539 (previously passed by the Senate), which requires that, to qualify as a court-appointed mediator in a dispute relating to the parent-child relationship, a person must complete a minimum of four hours of family violence dynamics training developed in consultation with a statewide family violence advocacy organization. Mediators who completed the 24-hour advanced family mediation training before September 1, 2017, must complete the required family violence dynamics training by January 1, 2018.The full text of the enrolled version of SB 539 may be found on the LegiScan web site by clicking HERE.

Within the past month, several organizations in Central Texas have announced plans to offer the required familyviolence training developed in consultation with the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV). Some of those organizations offer the training only to their members or affiliates. AAM is aware of two training options that are available to all mediators: online training offered by the TCVF and classroom training offered by Mediators of Texas.

TCFV Online Training

TCFVreleased the following announcement on November 20th:

TCFV is creating a Domestic Violence Curriculum Tool Kit for Child Custody Mediators that will be available December 15th. The tool kit will be four one hour webinar modules and supplemental materials on these four core components:

Dynamics of domestic violence

Child exposure and resiliency

Intersection of DV and child custody including the Texas statutory framework

Trauma-informed, safety centered mediation practice

To access these webinars starting December 15th, go to TCFV’s website (hyperlinked) and click the On-Demand tab. Until January, these four webinar modules will be accessible to anyone, free of charge. Starting in January, this content will only be available to TCFV members. More information on joining TCFV as an individual member may be found here.

In 2018, TCFV Policy staff will be offering this training in person at forums as well as provide support and technical assistance to local DV programs that are interested in providing the training in their communities.

Krista Del Gallo
Policy Manager
Texas Council on Family Violence

AAM contacted Krista Del Gallo by phone on November 21 and was given the following additional information:

Following completion of the on-line training, a certificate will be issued confirming that the individual has fulfilled the new family violence dynamics training requirement.

TCFV is working with the State Bar of Texas and other organizations (including TMCA) to arrange for 4 hours of CLE/CE credits, though that process has not yet been completed.

TCFV will seek to determine how many of the CLE/CE credits will qualify as "Ethics", but this is not known to them at this time.

The announcement refers to the training as a "Tool Kit" because TCFV intends to make it available to other organizations that may wish to develop their own training offerings.

UPDATE: On November 29th, Ms. Del Gallo confirmed via email that, after January 1, 2018, TCFV memberswill have free access to the online training, in addition to all other benefits of TCFV membership. As of Nov. 29, 2017, annual dues for an individual TCFV membership are $35.

If you have any questions regarding this training, please contact Krista Del Gallo at TCFV (her contact information is given on the TCFV web site).

AAM reserves the right to determine what events and trainings are listed on this page.